Hantavirus outbreak on cruise MV Hondius prompts release of French contacts

In 2026 an outbreak of hantavirus occurred aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius. About ten passengers were infected and three died, including a Dutch woman whose case sparked international concern. The virus spread mainly through contact with rodent excreta, but the Andes strain can also transmit between humans, which was identified on the ship.

French health authorities placed 22 French nationals who had been in contact with the infected passenger under strict isolation. On 6 June those contacts were released from hospitals across Paris, Marseille and other locations, while four individuals with direct exposure to the cruise remain isolated until 21 June. One French patient, the only confirmed case in France, continues to receive intensive‑care treatment in a stable condition. The French government justified the stringent protocol after expert advice indicated a low risk of wider spread, a decision later upheld by the courts.

The outbreak has highlighted differences between hantavirus and COVID‑19: hantavirus rarely spreads human‑to‑human except for the Andes variant, and its incubation period can range from 7 to 60 days, contrasted with the shorter 2‑14‑day period for COVID‑19.